Baltimore Catechism No. 3 (of 4) eBook

Q. 821. How are Christians aided in the performance
of works of mercy? A. Christians are aided in
the performance of works of mercy through the establishment
of charitable institutions where religious communities
of holy men or women perform these duties for us,
provided we supply the necessary means by our almsgiving
and good works.

Q. 822. Who are religious? A. Religious
are self-sacrificing men and women who, wishing to
follow more closely the teachings of Our Lord, dedicate
their lives to the service of God and religion.
They live together in societies approved by the Church,
under a rule and guidance of a superior. They
keep the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience,
and divide their time between prayer and good works.
The houses in which they dwell are called convents
or monasteries, and the societies in which they live
are called religious orders, communities or congregations.

Q. 823. Are there any religious communities of
priests? A. There are many religious communities
of priests, who, besides living according to the general
laws of the Church, as all priests do, follow certain
rules laid down for their community. Such priests
are called the regular clergy, because living by rules
to distinguish them from the secular clergy who live
in their parishes under no special rule. The
chief work of the regular clergy is to teach in colleges
and give missions and retreats.

Q. 824. Why are there so many different religious
communities? A. There are many different religious
communities (1) because all religious are not fitted
for the same work, and (2) because they desire to
imitate Our Lord’s life on earth as perfectly
as possible; and when each community takes one of
Christ’s works and seeks to become perfect in
it, the union of all their works continues as perfectly
as we can the works He began upon earth.

LESSON TWENTIETH.
ON THE MANNER OF MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION.

Q. 825. {224} What should we do on entering the confessional?
A. On entering the confessional we should kneel, make
the sign of the Cross, and say to the priest, “Bless
me, father”; then add, “I confess to Almighty
God and to you, father, that I have sinned.”

Q. 826. {225} Which are the first things we should
tell the priest in Confession? A. The first
things we should tell the priest in Confession are
the time of our last Confession, and whether we said
the penance and went to Holy Communion.

Q. 827. Should we tell anything else in connection
with our last confession? A. In connection with
our last confession we should tell also what restrictions—­if
any—­were placed upon us with regard to our
occasions of sin, and what obligations with regard
to the payment of debts, restitution, injuries done
to others and the like, we were commanded to fulfill.

Q. 828. {226} After telling the time of our last Confession
and Communion what should we do? A. After telling
the time of our last Confession and Communion we should
confess all the mortal sins we have since committed,
and all the venial sins we may wish to mention.